Juan Pablo Montoya was an engaging and charismatic personality, but also fiercely independent in a way that often worked against him. Across 94 GPs and seven victories, the Colombian showed flashes of brilliance that marked him as one of the most naturally gifted drivers of his generation.
That is what made his F1 story such a disappointment, because in pure talent, he had everything needed to become a world champion.
Instead, his relationship with McLaren deteriorated so badly by the summer of 2006 that he walked away from F1 and into NASCAR. Ever since his Champ Car and Indy 500 days, Montoya had embraced the American lifestyle, preferring family life over the relentless pressure of F1.
During his McLaren years, the team's hospitality area often felt more like a family lounge than a racing team, with his young son regularly in tow.
Montoya's passion for racing could sometimes spill over. At the 2001 Brazilian GP, he boldly passed Schumacher's Ferrari at the first corner and looked set for victory until Jos Verstappen, whom he had just lapped, crashed into the back of him. In the heat of the moment, Montoya was heard muttering, "I'll kill him."
Interlagos also delivered one of his finest moments, and his final Williams victory, in 2004. Battling future McLaren teammate Kimi Raikkonen, the pair emerged side by side from their final pit stops, with Montoya narrowly edging ahead before sealing the win.
For all his flair, he could also be his own worst enemy. Just two races into his McLaren career in 2005, he missed Bahrain and Imola with a shoulder injury reportedly caused by tennis, though many inside the team doubted that explanation. Some suspected mountain biking or another risky hobby. Either way, distrust between Montoya and McLaren lingered until the very end.
